There are a lot of great romantic comedies out there: any "Nicholas Sparks movie" immediately comes to mind, "Mean Girls" is a strong contender, but there is one that stands out from the rest: "10 Things I Hate About You", starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. Here are a few reasons why the movie could quite possibly be the best rom-com of all time.
1. It's a fresh take on an old story.
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As many people know, the movie is based on the Shakespearian comedy, "Taming of the Shrew." There are a few nods to the Bard's original work. The two sisters, Katherina and Bianca, are the names of the original characters. The movie is set at Padua High School in Seattle and the town that "Shrew" is set in is Padua. The script even contains a few lines from the play.
2. 1999 in all its glory
The fashion, dialogue and music are all so aggressively 90's and it's amazing.
3. Heath Ledger
The movie was Ledger's debut on the silver screen. His performance just leaves me with one question: is there anyone in the world who is not in love with Patrick Verona?
4. Katherina Stratford
Stiles plays Kat Stratford, more commonly known in the movie as "The Shrew." She is intelligent, cold and unapologetically herself. She is the strong female character that we all need.
5. Bianca Stratford wasn't too terrible either.
Many may accuse her of being self-absorbed and image obsessed while she pursues grade-A b-hole Joey Donner for the majority of the movie. However, at the end, she finally comes into her own and punches him in the face at prom when she realizes her true self-worth and who her real friends are.
6. Ms. Perky — terrible guidance counselor, pretty decent writer
Ms. Perky essentially invented the concept of fanfiction.
7. Mr. Stratford — the most protective dad on the planet
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Just like any parent, Kat and Bianca's dad only wants the best for his daughters. Does he take it over the edge a few times? Maybe. Does he do it out of love? Sure ...
8. The obligatory musical number
In 45 seconds, Ledger/Patrick Verona can make you fall in love with him. Just watch. It's extremely important.
9. The ending scene
Kat delivers a sonnet that she has written about Patrick that shows the audience that even though they have had a tumultuous relationship, she really does not hate him as much as she seems to let on to others. She conveys what we all may have felt at some point about a crush or an ex or a current relationship. Even though the movie is almost 18-years-old, it's still #relatable.
Watch "10 Things I Hate About You" on Netflix or rent/buy from iTunes or YouTube!
